Baked Beans with Ground Beef – Midwest Recipe!

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Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon have layers of rich, savory, and sweet flavors. These make a fantastic side dish for your next family dinner or gathering.

Growing up in the Midwest, baked beans were a Summer staple at barbecues, potlucks, and family gatherings. This version combines the sweetness of baked beans with the savory flavor of ground beef, making it a familiar side dish or hearty enough to enjoy as a main too! My Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon recipe has layers of rich, savory, and slightly sweet flavors with a hint of heat.

This Baked Beans dish is an incredibly satisfying and delicious side dish to go with anything grilled and so much more! Try it with Meatloaf for more savory ground beef flavor. They are also great with Breaded Chicken Cutlets. Or make it the protein to pair with Manchego Mac and Cheese!

Time-Saving Tip! This makes enough to feed 8, so if you want it for a family dinner, freeze half for next month!

Want more tips for making busy family dinners easier?  Click here for my Free Printable 5 Simple Steps to Easy Family Dinners!

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love this Baked Beans Recipe
• Simple Ingredients and Substitutes
• Simple Equipment
• Slow Cooker Instructions
• Time Saving Prep and Cooking Steps
• Substitutions for Baked Beans with Ground Beef
• More Fun Variations on Baked Beans
• Storage for Baked Beans
• Baked Beans with Ground Beef FAQs
• Want More Party Side Dishes?
• Baked Beans with Ground Beef – Midwest Recipe!
• Comments

Why You’ll Love this Baked Beans Recipe

• Hearty Side Dish or Main: This dish combines protein-packed ground beef and savory bacon with the satisfying texture of baked beans, making it a substantial and filling side or meal.
• Rich Flavor Profile: The addition of ground beef with the bacon, onion, garlic, steak seasoning, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and a pinch of cayenne pepper creates a delicious balance of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors.
• Comfort Food at Its Best: Perfect side dish for cozy family dinners, potlucks, or BBQs, this recipe brings a warm, comforting feel to any occasion.
• Crowd-Pleaser: The savory and slightly sweet combination is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults, making it an excellent choice for gatherings.
• Easy Recipe to Make Ahead: With straightforward steps and common ingredients, this great recipe is simple enough for any home cook to tackle. Prepare it in advance and reheat when needed; the flavors only get better as they meld together.
• Great Leftovers: Tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep and ensuring no food goes to waste.

Simple Ingredients and Substitutes

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• Lean Ground Beef – I used 90% lean Ground Beef, but you can use any fat content. You can substitute in ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Steak Seasoning: Brings a blend of spices that further deepen the savory flavors. I used a Trader Joe’s blend, but you can use your favorite brand.
• Bacon: Adds a smoky, salty depth that enhances the overall richness of the dish.
• Onion and Garlic: Provide aromatic, savory notes that add complexity and enhance the meatiness of the ground beef. You can also add diced green peppers or red peppers.
  • Onion, diced – I used yellow onion, but you can use white onion, red onion, shallots, or even scallions. If you don’t have fresh onion, you can also use a tablespoon of onion flakes or onion powder.
  • Fresh Garlic cloves, minced – Fresh is best in this simple recipe, but you can buy the pre-minced garlic sold in a small jar or use dried garlic flakes or garlic powder.
• Brown Sugar: Introduces a sweet, molasses-like flavor that balances the savory elements and complements the beans. You can substitute with a couple teaspoons of molasses plus a couple teaspoons of white sugar or honey.
• Ketchup: Adds tanginess and a touch of sweetness, melding with the brown sugar to create a rich, barbecue-like sauce. You can substitute with tomato paste and a splash of vinegar.
• Yellow Mustard: Contributes a slight tang and a bit of sharpness, cutting through the richness. You can substitute with dijon for spicier tang.
• Canned Baked beans, original style: You are going to drain these and make a fresh homemade sauce, so you can get any canned variety. You can substitute with canned cooked navy beans, cannellini beans, or pinto beans.
• Cayenne Pepper: Adds a subtle heat that lingers, giving the dish a pleasant spicy kick without overwhelming the other flavors. You can substitute with red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.

See recipe card for quantities.

Simple Equipment

A large skillet/frying pan for making the ground beef mixture and adding the beans and condiments to the mix. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning. 

If you make this in a skillet, you may need to finish it in a large casserole dish or baking dish that’s approximately 10×12, 12×12, 10×13 or similar to bake the final the beans.

You can also make this in a Dutch oven that can go from stove to oven.

Oh, and mincing garlic is made super easy with a Garlic Press.

Slow Cooker Instructions

You can also make this recipe in a crock pot or any slow cooker. To do so, brown the ground beef first in a pan, then add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker to 4 hours high up to 8 hours on low depending on your schedule.

Time Saving Prep and Cooking Steps

Talking Tips! The great thing about this recipe is that it can be entirely made ahead and reheated.

Mince the garlic and dice the onions. You can prep these items 1-3 days in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

While the beef is cooking, drain the beans as you don’t need the canned sauce.

Stir everything together, cover and place in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. If needed, transfer the combined beans dish to a casserole dish for baking in the oven.

Talking Tip: A large foil pan with lid or covered with aluminum foil is great to use if you’re heading to a grill out so you don’t have to return with the dish and wash it clean from the sticky bean mixture.

Substitutions for Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Here are some substitute ingredients you can use in a baked beans with ground beef recipe to suit different dietary preferences, flavors, and textures:

• Beans – instead of baked beans, cannellini beans, pinto beans, kidney or black beans offer a different texture. You can also add them in addition to the baked beans.
• Sauce and Seasonings – there are many variations you can play with based on preference and what you have on hand.
  • Tomato sauce or tomato paste plus vinegar is a replacement for ketchup.
  • Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce can add another level of flavor.
  • You can also add different spices, such as smoky paprika to get the smoked flavor without firing up the Traeger.
  • Add a kick with some hot sauce in the mix or cayenne pepper.
  • Add a dollop of your favorite BBQ sauce.
• Vegetables – diced green bell pepper or red bell pepper, chopped carrot or diced celery would add crunch.
• Vegetarian – the ground beef can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian and omit the bacon.

More Fun Variations on Baked Beans

Baked beans with or without a protein in the mix, is a genuine, traditional Midwest dish to share in the summer, at grill outs and potlucks. However, in true Midwest fashion, baked beans can be completely tailored to what you have on hand so no two dishes are the same.

• Mediterranean spin – starting with cannellini beans, add some red wine vinegar and oregano.
• Sweet & Spicy – honey and hot sauce shine here!
• Southwestern – Barbecue sauce, cumin, chili powder and some diced green chiles with a mix of 3 kinds of beans, are in the mix.

See this Refried Beans recipe using dried beans on my website!

Storage for Baked Beans

Baked beans will taste great for several days as the ingredients meld together. Be sure to keep the beans in their sauce to retain moisture and not dry out. They will be good for 2-3 days.

These ingredients do freeze well for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Baked Beans with Ground Beef FAQs

Can you replace ground pork with the ground beef?

Yes, this would be an easy substitute. You can even go half and half with the two meats and enjoy another layer of flavor.

Can pork and beans replace baked beans?

Yes, baked beans tend to be sweeter but pork and beans would be an acceptable addition to the mixture.

How come molasses aren’t used in this recipe?

This recipe uses ketchup and brown sugar for sweetening the beans. You could omit those ingredients and add molasses but the overall flavor would change and this hasn’t been tested in our kitchen to recommend amounts.

How come this dish isn’t a main course with the ground beef thickening it up?

While it technically could be served as a main dish, baked beans are a classic side dish that are served to accompany grilled foods, like hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks or potluck meals.

Want More Party Side Dishes?

If you like hearty side dishes, then you will love these recipes too, which are fun variations on classic potato salad, cornbread, potatoes, and pasta salad!

Have you tried this recipe? If so, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe below! I love to hear your feedback and your rating helps others to find this recipe. Thanks so much!